Sheriff’s Civil Service Commission

The Sheriff's Civil Services Commission's mission statement is to classify all positions and employees in the Sheriff's Office. To aid the Sheriff in the selection of competent employees. To protect employees against political interference in their positions. To give fair and equal opportunity to all qualified applicants to enter employment in the Sheriff's Office on the sole basis of merit and fitness as ascertained through practical competitive examinations. To create a service that shall be made attractive as a career and which shall encourage each employee to render his/her best service.

To act as an appeals board for applicants grieving the county's personnel practices as they pertain to the standards for a merit system of personnel administration and to hear veterans' dismissal proceedings.

Organizational Structure

The Commission shall be organized and members appointed pursuant to Minnesota Statues 387.31 through 387.45. It shall meet as soon as possible after its appointment and thereafter on the first Monday in February of each year, at which meeting it shall select from its members as a secretary who shall serve until his/her successor is elected. The minutes of the proceedings from the Commission shall be prepared and maintained by the secretary on behalf of, and subject to the approval of, the Commission and all such written minutes, registers and other written material of the Commission shall be the property of the County of Olmsted.

Member Requirements and Responsibilities

Minnesota law requires that a member of the Sheriff’s Civil Service Commission is: (1) a resident of Olmsted County, and (2) not an elected official or employee of a government entity.

In addition, the Sheriff’s Civil Service Commission Rules require that a member have:

  • A minimum of five years’ work experience in human resources or business management;
  • Prior public service, volunteer, or advisory board experience;
  • The ability to attend and participate actively and objectively in the competitive examination process for applicants conducted onsite at the Olmsted County Government Center;
  • The ability to review and analyze confidential background information on applicants to assess both fitness for service and likelihood of success;
  • The ability to attend monthly Commission meetings onsite at the Olmsted County Government Center; and
  • The ability to serve a three-year term.

History

Adopted December 5, 1962, was a resolution to establish a civil service personnel system in the Olmsted County Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff's Civil Service Commission prescribed the rules and regulations of those positions created under the jurisdiction of the Sheriff's Department.

The Commission was organized and members appointed according to the state law (Chapter 154 S.F. No. 429), approved March 24, 1961. All meetings must be held in Olmsted County, Minnesota.

It is the purpose of the rules and regulations to give effect to and to supplement the provisions of Chapter 154, MN Laws of 1961. The rules and regulations shall be applied to the following:

  • To classify positions of like duties and responsibilities into classes so that, for all personnel purposes, they may be treated alike.
  • To aid the Sheriff in the selection of competent employees for the efficient performance of the functions of his office.
  • To protect employees against political interference in their positions.
  • To give fair and equal opportunity to all qualified applicants to enter employment in the Sheriff's Department on the sole basis of merit and fitness as ascertained through practical competitive examinations.
  • To create a service which shall, as far as practicable, be made attractive as a career, and which shall encourage each employee to render his best service in willing compliance with the provisions of the act.

In 1982, additional responsibilities were given to the Sheriff's Civil Service Commission. Olmsted County was certified as having a merit system of personnel administration under the Intergovernmental Personnel Act. Under this act, the Sheriff's Civil Service Commission became the Personnel Appeals Board.

The function of the Personnel Appeals Board is to hear grievances pertaining to the County and its following of the standards for merit system of personnel administration.

Rules 

View the Sheriff's Civil Service Commission Rules and Regulations in the document below.